Can you imagine this kind of power— filling a shopping bag for only four euros? In a era of rising prices and inflation, that idea might seem like a dream. Yet it has been a reality in several parts of Europe for years. Too Good to Go is the platform making it possible. It gives a second life to food that would otherwise be wasted.
The company, born in Denmark in 2015 when a group of friends noticed how much food was discarded at a buffet they visited, wears the motto “Fighting together against food waste.” Observing large amounts of perfectly good food being thrown away, they wondered if there was another path to prevent waste. This curiosity sparked the practice known as Too Good to Go, or literally “Too Good to Waste.”
p>The biggest app in the war against food waste acts as a bridge between two worlds. On one side are restaurants, stores, and supermarkets that have surplus food they cannot sell. On the other side are consumers who fill their refrigerators with items at drastically reduced prices.
p>Eat for 2 or 5 euros
The app is free to download for iOS and Android. Users can quickly locate nearby businesses and save their data. They can choose surprise packages at lower prices ranging from 2 to 5 euros. The contents are always a surprise, dependent on what excess is available each day. When a package is purchased, payment is made through the app and the collection happens at a designated time from the organization.
p>Already expanding beyond its early roots in Europe, Too Good to Go arrived in Spain in 2018 with a bold objective: reshape Spain’s relationship with food. “It was a very novel concept at the time, and there wasn’t even talk of food waste,” recalls Carlos García, the company’s head of communications.
p>The initial years in Spain were challenging. Growth was gradual until institutions joined the network, speeding up progress. Now, five years in, the country is covered with the service, boasting millions of users and thousands of participating organizations. García reports that the platform has grown to over 6 million users and 18,000 partner organizations in Spain.
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p>Too Good To Go’s expansion is largely driven by alliances with major brands such as Carrefour, VIPS, Aldi, Starbucks, SPAR, Morrisons, Costa, Casino Group, M&B, and PAUL Group, among others. These collaborations help brands gain visibility and demonstrate environmental commitment while giving consumers access to affordable, surplus food.
p>Its arrival in Spain marked a shift in how people view food waste. The FAO notes that millions of tons of good food are discarded annually in many countries, making waste a significant economic and environmental challenge. In the last five years, Too Good to Go has helped avoid thousands of tonnes of food waste and substantial CO2 emissions by redirecting surplus food toward households.
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p>Food waste accounts for a notable share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Every saved package or meal not wasted makes a difference, both in terms of money and planetary health, García explains.
p>In recent years, the company has broadened its mission beyond simple exchanges. Awareness campaigns have become a core pillar, addressing the waste problem. For example, the “Look, Smell, Try” initiative encourages consumers to assess product freshness using senses after expiration dates rather than discarding items unnecessarily. Labels on packaging remind shoppers to evaluate product safety beyond the printed date, reducing confusion about expiration terms.
p>More than 41 major consumer brands have joined the effort, including YoSoy and Central Lechera Asturiana. The initiative is now visible on packaging across more than 1,200 product references.
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p>For organizations seeking contact with the environmental arm, collaboration and information channels are in place to discuss sustainability efforts and waste reduction strategies.